FTSE 100 knocked by stronger pound

FTSE 100 knocked by stronger pound

London’s top flight closed the day down 47.18 points.

The FTSE 100 ended in negative territory on Thursday, dented by a resurgent pound and dragged down by the likes of Vodafone and Smurfit Kappa.

London’s top flight closed the day down 47.18 points, or 0.62%, at 7,516.03.

Leading the fallers was Vodafone, with the telecommunications giant subject to a sell-off after Merrill Lynch downgraded its stock to neutral from buy.

It came after Vodafone agreed a mammoth 15 billion Australian dollar (£8.4 billion) deal to merge its Australian operations with TPG Telecom.

Shares ended down 5.42p at 167.52p.

Smurfit Kappa was also among the biggest fallers after disclosing a day earlier that Venezuela’s socialist government has seized control of its operations in the country and detained two employees over allegations including price fixing and destabilising the economy.

Its subsidiary Smurfit Kappa Carton de Venezuela (SKCV) will be under government control for the next 90 days. Shares closed down 68p at 3,168p.

On the FTSE 250, recruitment firm Hays came under pressure as its UK arm continues to be held back by Brexit uncertainty.

The group reported a 17% rise in pre-tax profits to £238.5 million in the 12 months to June 30, boosted by a strong performance in its international unit.

But in the UK and Ireland, net fees rose by just 2%, a dismal performance compared with its other territories. The stock closed down 8.8p at 194p.

Sterling held on to gains made on Wednesday following comments from Michel Barnier suggesting that the European Union is ready to offer the UK a bespoke Brexit deal.

The bloc’s chief negotiator said the EU is “prepared to offer a partnership with Britain such as has never been with any other third country”, which resulted in the pound spiking.

The pound was hovering around 1.30 US dollars for most of the day before dipping 0.2% to end the session at 1.299p.

Versus the single currency, the pound was up 0.3% at 1.115 euros.

David Madden, market analyst at CMC, said: “The dust has settled after Michel Barnier’s comments yesterday that he would be prepared to give the UK a deal that no other country has been offered.

“Today it was reported that President Macron will encourage the EU to broker an agreement with the UK. While the prospects of a ‘no-deal Brexit’ remain low, the pound’s prospects are likely to be positive.”

In Europe, France’s CAC was down 0.42% and Germany’s DAX closed down 0.54%.

Brent Crude was trading up 0.26% at 77.4 US dollars per barrel.

The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Ocado up 18p at 1,080.5p, United Utilities up 9.4p at 738.8p, GVC up 10p at 1,110p and Whitbread up 31p at 4,020p.

The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Vodafone down 5.42p at 167.52p, Fresnillo down 28.4p at 906.2p, Royal Mail down 13.1p at 451.2p and Smurfit Kappa down 68p at 3,168p.